·        Bilingual children experience improved communication skills.

·        They show advanced cognitive development.

·        Children who learn two languages early in life read sooner.

·        Children learning two languages or more have a heightened awareness of other cultures.

·        Bilingual children score higher on the math and verbal sections of standardized tests.

·        Children who learn a second language early in life will most often speak the new language with native pronunciation.

·        The sooner you begin the second language learning, the more apt your child is to learn it faster and retain it better.
 

Why should Spanish be the 2^nd language of choice in the US?

·        More than 28 million homes in the United States have Spanish as their first language.

·        There are currently over 44 million Latinos living in the United States.

·        Spanish is the most requested language program in the United States.

·        You open up your child’s world to more than 350 million people worldwide by giving them Spanish as second language. 

The research is in! The experts agree! The earlier the better when it comes to introducing a second language to the young children of our world. Let's keep the bilingual boomerang of language flowing seamlessly for the youth of today. Let's provide these young children with the tools necessary to travel successfully through our very global society.   

About the Author: Beth Butler is the founder of the BOCA BETH Language Learning Series for young children. Find out how fun and easy it can be to raise a bilingual child. Sample the BOCA BETH bilingual music and movies for free at http://www.bocabeth.com 
Call toll free 1.877.825.2622 or 1.813.244.1432

Academics may or may not be the main purpose that you have chosen to educate at home, but it seems to be everyone else’s reason why you shouldn’t. Even though homeschooling has become more well-known and recognizable today, it still seems like the criticism persists. For homeschooling parents like me, it is easy to see the benefits of homeschooling. Our kids are more obedient, they have stronger family bonds, and they are independent thinkers. We cherish the opportunity to be an instrumental part of their development by directing their education. This, however, does not dissuade people from criticizing the education our children receive. All the wonderful personal and spiritual benefits of homeschooling are overlooked for merely choices of curriculum and specific teaching criteria. However, there is proof of the quality of a homeschool education, and it comes in the form of an objective test.  

The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is proving to be the vehicle that gives accreditation to the homeschooling lifestyle. The SAT is a college entrance exam that puts all students on an equal playing field. It is the test most used by colleges to evaluate both admissions and scholarship decisions. The SAT is not about exclusive knowledge or curriculum found only at public or private schools, but is a test of reasoning and logic. Public, private, and homeschool students are all administered the same test, and therefore the results are unbiased. In this situation where academic background is inconsequential to scoring, it seems that homeschoolers are consistently earning marks high above their public and private school peers. 

In the very first year that statistics for SAT scores were released, The Wall Street Journal reported:  “On the SAT, which began its tracking last year, home-schoolers scored an average 1,083 (verbal 548, math 535), 67 points above the national average of 1,016.” (Home-Schooled Kids Defy Stereotypes, Daniel Golden, 2/11/00) 

In a later report released by The College Board, the organization that creates and administers the SAT, there is a significant above-average performance of homeschoolers. “In 2002, homeschoolers averaged 1092, 72 points higher than the national average of 1020.  In 2001, homeschoolers scored 1100 on the SAT, compared to the national average of 1019.” (CITATION)  DISCUSSION OF NEW SCORING SYSTEM AND OLD 

On the on House Bill 2560 (home education law) before the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, it was noted, “For example, homeschool students consistently score 15 to 30 percentile points higher on academic achievement tests than do their counterparts in public schools, on average.” (Statement and Testimony, Brian D. Ray,Ph.D., June 13, 2002) 

More recently, The Home School Legal Defense Association newsletter raved about the higher SAT scores of homeschoolers.       

       Nearly 80% of homeschooled children achieved individual scores above the national
       average and 54.7% of the 16,000 homeschoolers achieved individual scores in the
       top quarter of the population, more than double the number of conventional school
       students who score in the top quarter  (Homeschooled Students Excel in College,  

                              Christopher J. Klicka, September 20, 2006) 

Not only do homeschooled students have higher SAT scores, but also they seem to have a higher degree of college-readiness. Homeschoolers are excelling their peers as academic leaders. Colleges are finding that these students are entering their schools better prepared—with good study habits and greater maturity than many of their academic counterparts.   

The SAT is more than just a test to legitimize a home education. It is also a doorway to many scholarship opportunities. Both my kids were fortunate enough to receive substantial scholarships from their SAT and PSAT/NMSQT scores, and they are not alone. Through only SAT scores, many homeschooled students have gained up to a full-ride scholarship to the university of their choice. Therefore, homeschoolers should regard these exams seriously. Many smart kids (from all academic backgrounds) do poorly on the SAT. Understanding what the test covers and how to take the test is important. Just like any other exam, all students should take the time to study and prepare for the SAT. However, homeschoolers should never feel insecure about doing poorly on this standardized test. Regardless of their SAT score, their twelve years of quality home education should be more than enough to prepare them for the academic rigors of a university and most academic institutions can look beyond a bad test.  

So, maybe I wasn’t able to attend college, but I don’t believe this injured the education of my children. On the contrary, I was able to help afford them the opportunity of attending a university. Being obedient to God is always the right thing to do — so stop defending your education decisions! Yes, validation of the homeschool education can be accomplished with the SAT, but we don’t need test results to know that homeschooling works. Nonetheless, let the numbers speak for themselves and get ready to shut the mouths of the critics for good.

 To learn more PSAT information visit www.collegeprepgenius.com or contact Jean Burk at info@collegeprepgenius.com   Also sign-up for our free No Brainer Scholarship Newsletter

A: What an enlightened child. She has no tolerance for phony, inauthentic polite talk. Why teach her otherwise? Besides, who defines "rudeness?" Why label the child's behavior? Labeling closes our mind because we think we already know. Notice that in such a situation the underlying "knowing" is that "something is wrong." When we don't label what the child does, we have freedom to notice the rightness of her point of view. Do we really want children to emulate the kind of phony politeness that goes on among adults? Or, maybe it is time in our evolution to consider learning to be authentic and truly caring.

Let's examine a possibility that may startle you: Why don't you call your relatives before they come for a visit and give them the half hour talk? Now you are probably laughing; that seems absurd in a society which holds the adult as right and the child as the one needing to learn. However, your relatives would benefit from a lesson on respecting your daughter and on being sensitive to her way of connecting.

Obviously I do not really intend for you to give your relatives a pep talk about their behavior! But if it is not conceivable to have that talk with them, I suggest it isn't any more right to have that talk with your daughter. Respect her the same way you respect the guests. Allow them to be the way they are and your daughter the way she is. They will do their introduction, and she will respond by rolling her eyes and going away in a fit. Judge neither of them. Just put a loving hand on your daughter so she can sense that you honor her way of being.

Let your daughter know that however she welcomes the guests is fine with you. When she feels free to be herself, she may choose not to come to the door when they arrive. Or she may stand there and you may be surprised to find that she will not be angry and may not even leave, because her anger was most likely directed also at you for taking their side and rejecting her choice of behavior.

You have asked your child to meet your need for approval by being the good little girl in your show. Your own inauthenticity is then passed on to her, and she learns to impress rather than be real. Lucky for you, she is rejecting your lesson. Instead, she is teaching you to liberate yourself from the need to live up to the expectations of others; embrace the gift.

Listen to your child's ideas and flow easily with her ways. She may want to jump into their arms, get the gifts first (if there are any) or run toward them outside and enter their car before they even get out of it. On the other hand she may want to hide until they make themselves at home and there is no more danger of phoniness. Then she will show up and start a game without any official "introduction".

I never taught my children to say "please" and "thank you", nor required that they respond to adults' inquiries. They behave well because they want to fit in, and they care. A child who chooses to abide by society's rules of behavior on her own does not do so as a result of coercion or fear of judgment, but because she wants to.

When your guests disregard your daughter's need to welcome them in her own way, she learns to disregard the preferences of others and to dominate those who are smaller. But if you are on her side, she can observe free of anxiety; when she doesn't have to meet your need for approval, she can stay authentic. She will form her own ways of relating mostly from the way you treat her. If you coerce her to abide by the expectations of whoever is older or bigger, she will learn to be inauthentic, fearful and controlling. In contrast, if you treat her with respect while honoring her way of being, she will become respectful as well as assertive.

Informing children about manners can be harmless if the choice to use the skill is up to the child. You can model and you can give information, but if you insist that your child actually say whatever you tell her to, what do you think she is learning? To tell others what to say! In addition, saying words without having a feeling to match them trains children to be phony and dishonest. Even worse, while saying or doing things that contradict their authentic being, children feel resentful and often develop an aversion to the use of these manners. Many adults' difficulty with apologizing or thanking may be rooted in negative feelings associated with these words and actions.

Some children just love to use manner words and they see themselves as very accomplished. They do it with a flair of self-assurance and seem to enjoy their victory in impressing the adults around them. This is fine as long as the child really chooses this path freely and not out of fear of disapproval.

Most children do not express gratitude with specific code words but they do express it in their own ways. They will look at you with a big awed expression on their face, or they may show you how appreciative they are by displaying their joy or creating something with your gift and showing you. Indeed, we can learn manners from children. We can learn to express ourselves authentically rather than mechanically, and to receive gratitude when it is expressed in unique personal ways. We can also notice how labeling behaviors deprives us from seeing the gift that every event, word and action offer us.  

©Copyright Naomi Aldort 

 Naomi Aldort is the author of, Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves. Parents from around the globe seek Aldort's advice by phone, in person and by listening to her CDs and attending her workshops. Her advice columns appear in progressive parenting magazines in Canada, USA, AU, UK, and translated to German, Hebrew, Dutch, Japanese and Spanish.
Naomi Aldort is married and a mother of three. Her youngest son is thirteen-year-old cellist Oliver Aldort www.OliverAldort.com.

For more information: www.NaomiAldort.com  or www.AuthenticParent.com

We will discuss options for both children who can ride independently and those who will need your support. When riding on their own there are a few types of bicycles you may want to consider for your children.  

Mountain bikes are the most common and versatile of bicycles for touring and the one your child may already have. They have a comfortable upright riding position, and stable, safer handling. Mountain bikes usually come with knobby tires, but those can be switched to tires more suited to road riding. They also have low gearing for hills.    

Road bikes are lightweight with quick handling that positions the body aerodynamically and maximizes speed. Road bikes typically have high gearing to exploit speed, but due to their lightweight build are not suited to a lengthy self supported bicycle trip.   

A traditional road touring bicycle has a good mix of speed, comfort and durability. Like a road bike, the body is also positioned aerodynamically, but the longer wheelbase and heavier frame make it more stable and durable and thus better suited to high mileage or traveling self supported.   

The hybrid bicycle is a combination of a mountain bike and a road bike. Most come with medium width road tires enabling a decent ride on a variety of road surfaces. Hybrid bicycles have an upright riding position and increased stability due to the wider road tires making it ideal for a child new to cycling.   

For younger children or children who cannot ride independently, there are three main options: a bicycle trailer, which is pulled behind an adult’s bike; a trail-a-bike, which has a bike seat for the child and is attached behind an adult’s bike; and a tandem, which carries an adult child team. 

If you have young children ages one to five, a trailer is usually your only option.  Trailers are ideal since there is room for toys and books to keep children engaged. They are also nice since they allow enough space for children to take naps or capable of carrying two.  An additional bonus of trailers is the protection they provide against the elements, including sun, rain, or even snow. When choosing a trailer model make sure it will remain upright even if the bicycle falls over. Make sure that the harness straps securely hold your child in place. Most trailers made these days are either plastic or fabric bottomed. Plastic bottomed ones are usually heavier, yet more durable to wear and tear. Fabric bottomed ones are lighter and easily folded and packed, yet maybe not as resistant to tears or rips in the fabric.  Lastly, be aware of the differences in quality between trailers sold at toy and mega stores than with those sold by reputable bicycle shops or companies.     

Trail-a-bikes are great for children ages five to ten. Trail-a-bikes are the rear end of a child’s bike that can be attached to the adult’s bicycle. Most trail-a-bikes have weight limits and are ideal for those children who can remain seated for some time and will not throw the bike off balance with sudden jerky movements. Panniers can be attached to some trail-a-bike models, and many can pull a trailer behind them for additional luggage stowage. Ideal models have pedals that will propel the chain and turn the child’s wheel giving the parent in front added help on any long hills and engage your child in bicycling. As with trailers, be aware of the quality when buying or borrowing a trail-a-bike bought from a toy or mega store.  

Tandems are suited for children ages five and older, a tandem might be your only option if your child is too big for a trail-a-bike but not strong enough to ride independently. If this is the case, tandems can be an expensive investment, but one that can adapt to a child’s growth, and continue being used into adulthood. Many tandems sold today have rear frames that are smaller making the fit for a child better.  You may also purchase a childback conversion kit, which enable the pedals to be raised or lowered according to the size of the child. Tandems can accommodate panniers, and pull a trailer or trail-a-bike behind.  Tandems are not easily found in most bike shops so be prepared to do some research and searching before making your decision. 

Whether you have to borrow or buy new or used, there is lots of bicycle equipment out there that can allow your family to take a fun, healthy and educational trip by bicycle.  All the different options for bicycle travel listed above are intended to serve as a brief introduction to some of the choices available to those families interested in bicycle travel. Watch for upcoming articles from Adventure Cycling route planning, bicycle safety, and life on the road.    

 Holly Armstrong works in the Membership Department at Adventure Cycling Association. The mission of Adventure Cycling Association is to inspire people of all ages to travel by bicycle. They help cyclists explore the landscapes and history of America for fun, fitness, and self-discovery. One of Holly’s favorite parts of her job is meeting and talking with bicycling families who come through Adventure Cycling headquarters in Missoula, Montana. She also helps with the Pedal Pioneers Program, which aims to inspire and empower adults who are taking kids on overnight bicycle adventures.
She can be reached at  harmstrong@adventurecycling.org.

Okay, I know and fully understand this concept that children learn by watching, observing, copying, and doing. I am even glad to have been reminded of the obvious, but why is something so obvious so easy to forget?  

Children emulate their parent’s behaviors, expressions, habits, moods, ethics, reactions, actions, and yet we moms and dads spend most of the time TELLING children what they should or should not do when we should simply be SHOWING them.  

I gave this a little thought and it seems that it is much easier to talk than do, especially when we parents do the opposite of what we say. I remember my Grandfather saying to my cousin, “Do as I say - not as I do.” Ever hear that? Think right now of something you tell your children not to do that you do all the time. We are all guilty, but mark my words, our children will not let us get away with the crime. They are watching and will follow our actions faithfully despite the words we use. Even when learning Math or Language Arts or Science, there is no substitute for observation and hands-on learning.  

A fourth grade public school teacher recently told me that school administrators have banned using real tadpoles for their life-cycle unit and they have done away with incubating eggs into baby chicks. Apparently frogs and eggs can carry salmonella. Sorry kids, no more field trips to the local farms. In fact, some school districts are banning all animals from all classes including classroom pets like fish, hamsters, hermit crabs, and with the bird flu, let’s not even discuss parakeets. How about this: Couldn’t we show kids how to properly wash their hands?   

If the schools think children will learn about Science, nature, and life-cycles using books and lectures I would like to introduce you to my son and another million other children that just won’t learn that way. In one ear and out the other. Maybe it’s time we grown ups start acting like kids. Did you ever see a couple of toddlers meet for the first time at a park? They stare at each other for a minute or two, observe what each one is doing and how they are acting, and then start playing with one another without saying a word. Talk is cheap. 

Maybe we parents just need to think of every action as a hundred words. Less talk, more action. In fact, I will challenge myself to speak 50% less this week and see if it changes my children’s behavior or learning. Try it with me and email me your experience at www.CoolBugStuff.com. My guess is we will all be more conscious of how we are behaving in front of our children and teach them more because we are saying less. 

Well dad, once again, I have to admit you were right. I have been talking too much and I bet you like the sound of that.

Seth Prezant is the founder and Bugmaster of www.CoolBugStuff.com . His award winning web site was created to help promote fascination and education in science using nature’s most abundant creatures…Bugs! Seth is a true EEE (Education & Entertainment Entrepreneur) providing educational and entertaining nature shows for schools, camps, aftercare programs and home school groups all around South Florida. The Bugmaster can be reached @ seth@coolbugstuff.com.

The ability to manage young children’s behavior in a positive manner is challenging and complex.  One of the most difficult challenges faced by parents and educators is to guide our children into making their own good choices -- as opposed to making all of these “choices” for them.  Children require a patient and nurturing care giver who understands the capability of children at various ages and who is also aware that normal young children are naturally curious, impulsive and energetic!  This parent or educator also needs to recognize that the main goals of positive behavior management are to assist children in developing responsibility, to learn and develop self-control skills and to take responsibility for their own behavior.  (I’m sure we all know some adults who could benefit from these lessons as well)! 

So the next time ten year old Jacob forgets his lunch on his way to school, allow him to eat the bagel or snack provided by the school, even if it is not his favorite, and remind him that he needs to remember his lunch each day.  And, the next time six year old Sofia complains that she is cold in the restaurant, despite your reminders to bring in her sweater from the car, allow her to be cold and remind her to bring in her sweater in the future.   

Of course, health and safety is always a parent (and teacher’s) primary concern; certainly we chase a toddler that runs in the street to ensure his safety.  Yet, when we are able to allow a natural consequence to occur that will not be harmful to a child’s safety or too upsetting to a child emotionally, we are actually doing a service for that child.  Things will not always go our way and we need to have the skills to handle and cope with situation and perhaps most importantly to learn from it and improve for the future.  So, when your child goes hungry at lunch for having forgotten his lunch, he is learning that he can be resourceful and talk to an adult at school who may be able to provide him with a lunch, he can talk with friends and try to appropriately share a lunch and he can survive – he will not starve at missing one meal.  Most importantly, he will now try harder to remember his lunch in the future!  When we allow these natural consequences to occur, we are able to utilize one of the best teaching methods there is:  experience.  We are also teaching life!
 

Allison Gardenswartz is the owner and director of The Learning Garden, www.thelearninggarden.net a San Diego tutoring center specializing in gifted and remedial learning and test preparation studies.  An educator for over 15 years, Allison is an expert in identifying and enhancing the learning abilities of school-age children.
Allison lives with her husband, Dan, and her three children: Jacob, 11,  Sofia, 7 and newly adopted Ryan, who is 2!    Allison is most proud of her ability to be the full time mother to her small children, while simultaneously running a successful business which provides a much needed service to the San Diego community.  director@thelearninggarden.net
 

Home School Martial Arts & Fitness
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